Jacks Baptism ( Finally! )

It was a chilly day, but we made the most of it, and moved our bar-b-que indoors. The bigger your family gets the harder it is to get a good picture. Fr.Bill looks good!

Jack and his Mommy right before the ceremony.

Our family during the ceremony. Aunt Madonna is God Mother, Uncle Lou stood in for Uncle Willie, who couldn't attend.

Jack was not very happy by the time it was all over. It was too much for him! He just wanted to be left alone with a bottle!

Later that afternoon after a long nap Jack enjoyed some cake wtih extra frosting. He was loving it. He was back to his happy self.

He was lucky Mom wasn't feeling well because I wouldn't have let him have the cake. However Aunt Aishling was in charge and cake he had!

Nice Wheels

Jack enjoyed his first cruise around the block in his new car.He was very serious at first, but then he realized it was fun. Once he got the hang of it he was all smiles!

They he thought he was really cool!

Soccer Fun & Some Not So Much Fun!

What a beautiful day. Although we had lots of work to do in preparation for Jacks Christening tomorrow, we took some time out to enjoy the beautiful weather. Annabelle had a soccer game which turned out to be the best game The Chargers have played yet...
There were some injuries. Annabelle took a spill and got a ball in her face, but after a quick time out she was ready for mor action. Congrats to The Charges who played great. Final score Chargers 4 Queen of Martyrs 1.

Jack had lots of fun cheering on the team. He was very attentive the whole game. He sat like the happy baby he is smiling and any one who showed him any attention.

But then we went home for afternoon nap and...

Things were not the same when he woke up. He was not the happy Jack that we know. His cheeks were flaming red and he was very hot, and very sad. :(

For the longest time we couldn't make him happy. It broke my heart.

ThenI had a great idea. I put some ice in his thingey-ma-gig ( I have no idea what it is called) and let him suck on it for a while and soon he was back to his usual self.

Mothers

To all my family and friends,
It is offically Mothers Day(at least in the USA. ) I hope all of you take this day to reflect on the fact that we are all loved and cherished. It may not always be aparent, but when we really think about it we show love and affection for our children just like our mothers showed us. They are the women who shaped us into the mothers that we are today. If it were not for them how would we know how to love and cherish our own? So on the occasion that you hear your self say something and think, I sound just like my mother, just pause and think..Now I know why she said that... To all Mothers & Mothers to be HAPPY MOTHERS DAY

Six Months Old

I know it is wrong to put pictures like this on here, but I figure the amount of money I spent allows it. Here is Baby Jack Ryder at six months old. Look how handsome he is! His cheeks are really red, maybe we will see a tooth in the near future? Or maybe he is just the Irish little baby evreybody thinks he is!

His cheeks were on fire, and he did not nap all day, but he really was the happiest baby in the whole store!

Look at "My Little Fat Thing" (I say that with nothing but Love) I think he is the cutest thing since Annabelle!

He has a little bit of his father in his eyes... " How you doin?"

Soccer Fun

Well, if your Dad is the Coach, and you have all the equipment,and nothing better to do, why not wear it!

It looks like a visor in this picture, but really it looked more like a little Chinese hat.

Oh what we can do to little ones who have no idea why we are laughing at them. (And may I add , they are laughing back!)

Happy Birthday Mom & Dad

So, as most of you know Jeff & I have Birthdays one day apart. It is hard to celebrate two nights in a row , so we rolled it all into one great celebration, which was good for me as I have been feeling a little under the weather lately. Annabelle had soccer practice, so the celebrations got off to a late start. Around 7:30 we grilled some great hamburgers. Later we sat around the kitchen table and sang Happy Birthday (to Mom & Dad) it was a lot of fun. Jack was stunned by the bright light in front of him!

Did I mention that we have a new Birthday Hat that must be worn on your Birthday. We bought it in DisneyLand, but forgot to have Annabelle wear it on her 6th Birthday!

While singing Happy Birthday (twice), Jack couldn't take his eyes off the candles!

Jack looks schocked! LOOK INTO THE LIGHT...

I'm a big boy now!

I was a little wobbly but I had lots of fun! I like to eat bubbles! :) I know you can't see her but my Big Sis was there too and we had lots of splash fun!

I've been getting bigger and bigger by the minute! (No Kidding!) This evening my Mom decided to put me in a big boy bath tub. I just don't fit in my baby bath any more.

Finally May!

O.K. It was very early in the morning! I was really hungry... My Mom finally gave me something good to chew on...( Which helped my gums!) I chewed and I chewed...and I chewed... Please don't disturb me!

As you can see I have a death grip on this cookie, I will never give it up, it's my best friend!

Hey Momma, don't even think about it!

Ha Ha , Just Kidding, I am full now!

Still April

IT HAS BEEN A VERY BUSY MONTH, HERE ARE SOME HIGHLIGHTS!


Captain "Smiley" Jack

Captain" Serious Business" Jack
Annabelle and her pal Riley after The Chargers first game...and first win!! Go Chargers!

Annabelle, Mom and Dad at The Disco Inferno Fashion Show. Annabelle was a model!

Americas' Next Top Model after her appointment at Marios For some curl action.

Oh! she missing a few more teeth too!

I am so bundled up I can't even lift my arm to wave...

Although the weather is getting much better, and I should be thankful for this, our family has had a pretty horrible month. Don't get me wrong there were some great times here and there, but in general it had been a very unhealthy month for us. It started with me catching the flu and a sinus infection to boot! After four days in bed I finally felt well enough to get up and what do you know here comes the flu knocking on Jeffs door. A week later we are both recovered and out and about in the nice weather with the kids, all of our windows open to be sure to get rid of every last sick germ in our house, when what do you know... Mom starts to feel sick again, what could it be this time??? My good friend STREP THROAT. Not a fun four days. Needless to say my house is beyond help and my laundry pile is a big as my house. There is no hope!! Poor Annabelle knows every fast food menu by heart and has had lots of time to connect with my friends as they come one by one each evening taking turns to hang with the kids while Dads at work and Mom is in bed. O.K. it's not a pity party, but I do feel sorry for me!

Brothers & Sisters

Right after bath time, just before bed time, Jack gazes lovingly into his big sisters eyes, and she gladly returns the gaze!

Jack can't get over how cute his big sister is, so he pinches he cheek, and tells her she is beautiful!

I hope they always love each other this much. I know it's only a couple of pictures, but they both sat like this till Annabelles arm was asleep from holding her 20 lb plus little "big" brother!

Right after this picture was taken Jack dove in and caught a hold of Annabelles nose, with his mouth. I think he is ready for his bed time bottle!! She said he bit it hard with his gums!

Oh what joy children bring us! You can't get much hapier than this. What a cute picture! Two clean children ready to go to bed and give Mommy the peace and quiet she deserves!

" One last look so I don't forget what you look like sissy, see you in my dreams, I love you, Sweet dreams. Love : Jack. xox "

Sunny Times Are Here...At Last

While Mommy pulled all her dead flowers from last year out(I was way to pregnant to deal with dead flowers last October) Annabelle entertained her little Bro on the swings. Believe it or not when Jeff bought the baby swing two years ago it was not for us! It was for our neighbors Grandchild. Who knew we would be the ones using it with our precious baby boy!

They had a blast. I have to say that both my children are great candidates for the biggest higest roller coasters at Great America because the higher they go the bigger their smiles are!

Jack was loving the great out doors. And also his first flight! Annabelle made me very nervous! She pushed him way too high, and to my dismay he just laughed harder!

Here comes April..

Baby Jack learned that he can hold his own bottle...with a little help! At almost 5 months it's a little early, but I'll take it! Considering he is in the 98th percentile for his weight you can imagine that he eats often!

He loves his bath tub time but hates everything about getting dried and dressed after! When I take all his clothes off he starts to get very excited arms and legs moving very fast all over the place, with a huge smile on his face. I think it's the sound of running water that lets him know it's bath time.

I think that I am sure he is teething! I'm not sure what would give it away!!?? But at least once if not twice a day this is what Jack looks like. HUMM... Let me think! HE IS FOR SURE TEETHING!!! I don't care if people say he is too young.

My Big Kindergartener started soccer practice for the Incarnation Chargers, with her very proud Dad as the Head Coach.We look forward to a great season. Oh! and a winning one too! Go Chargers!